Kaduna $350m Loan: Pressure Won’t Compromise Me – Shehu Sani

BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna Central senatorial District, on Monday assured that he would not be party to a situation that will plunged the State into debt that the unborn generation will suffered for.

Senator Sani also vowed that no amount of politics, protests or pressure will make him to compromise on anything that does not follow due process.

Addressing newsmen in Kaduna at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Press Centre, Senator Sani said with the situation Kaduna State found itself, if the loan is eventually approved, it means that in the next three to five decades, the state may not be able to repay the loan.

According to him; “It is not a matter of Senator Shehu Sani been a blocking stone to the loan, but as a Senator representing my people at the Senate, I have a duty to ensure that things are done the way it ought to be done and that the next generation should not come and meet debt they cannot pay.

“If we borrow such amount of money and the money is not used according to what the money is meant for, the danger is that people may not traced the name of those who seek the loan but my name as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign and Local Debt that will appear on the file as the person who appended his signature on the file.

“If the senate must sign the loan, the senate must be satisfied beyond any reasonable doubt that the loan must reflect with projects seeking to use the loan for.

“Even if my committee approved the loan, it will still come back to the floor of the Senate for final approval. Passing a loan request required a lot of processes and all these processes will be done in public and not behind a closed door.”

Senator Sani cautioned against people being brainwashed by going on the streets of Kaduna state to stage a protest on the issue regarding the loan, saying he is a symbol of protest in Kaduna State without been paid by anybody.

According to him; “I am a symbol of protests especially in Kaduna State without anybody paying me to do so. So, whoever is doing protest in Kaduna is learning from me.”

The federal legislator explained that out of the 22 states seeking loan, 13 of them have been approved, while nine are awaiting approval, including Kaduna state.